Chapter 82 - @Zhou Mi Entertainment
Edited by xiin and Noks
Yu Yan froze. “Then, you……”
“He never paid you, which means he didn’t fulfill his contractual obligations first.” Yi Chen asked, “How many years was the contract you signed back then for?”
Generally, the terms for professional contracts weren’t long. It should have expired by now.
“……Three years?” Yu Yan wasn’t sure. He was embarra.s.sed about having the conversation turn to this topic. “I don’t remember.”
If he had just paid more attention to his contract back then, he wouldn’t have been thrown into a pit so miserably later on.
“That’s fine. I’ll arrange someone to deal with it and… resolve things.” Yi Chen said, “Just keep focusing on streaming. If any stream followers ask, banning all talk is fine too.”
Yu Yan curled his lips and wanted to say something, but eventually, he still just said, “Okay.”
The moment he said that, he also opened up his cellphone’s alarm clock app and set an alarm for 8 AM, planning to go to the law firm tomorrow.
The contract had been signed before he had joined StarTV. Naturally, this matter couldn’t count the platform’s problem. He couldn’t let the platform carry this big black pot just because of his deep relationship with Yi Chen.
As soon as the alarm was set, from the other end of the call came the sound of a door opening.
Yu Yan quickly cut back to the video-calland saw the person on the screen look up, in reaction to the movement.
“Ge.”
The person who spoke was Yi Ran. Recently, his family had been renovating their house, and his parents were worried that instead of going home, he would just run around wildly, so they had asked Yi Chen to take him in for a few days. “Are you going home for the Spring Festival?”
Instead of answering, Yi Chen asked, “What are you doing?”
“This year, my parents said that they’re going abroad. They really want me to go with them, but I don’t want to go. How could that shabby place be better than home ah.” Yi Ran continued, “I heard that uncle and them are also planning on going abroad. If you’re not going… then could you also conveniently let me stay here?”
Yi Ran put his hands together as he pleaded, “Ge, I really don’t want to go abroad. If you find me annoying, I’ll pack up my luggage and scram from here once they leave the country!”
Yi Chen didn’t like it when there was too much noise at home. Even the aunties who came to clean the house usually left early at night, while Yi Ran was clearly a noise-making machine. Besides, if he kept him here and then got too busy taking care of his work and something went wrong, that would be troublesome.
He moved his lips and was about to refuse, but then suddenly thought of something.
He raised his eyebrows slightly and said, “Whatever you want.”
“Ge, I’ll really be good, please help me…” Yi Ran was still willing to beg, then halted halfway through his sentence. His eyes went wide, and his face was full of disbelief. “Ge! You’re agreeing?!”
He was so loud that Yi Chen frowned. “I’m about to take it back.”
“Don’t, don’t, don’t… I’ll go let my mom know. If she comes to ask you afterwards, remember to tell her you said yes.” Yi Ran was really afraid that he would take it back. With the speed of a firecracker setting off, he quickly finished and then said goodbye immediately. “Good night, Ge!”
The fragile door slammed shut.
Yi Chen returned his gaze to his phone and saw the person on the screen, who had clenched both hands into fists by now, resting his head on one of those fists. He didn’t seem to have much spirit.
“Disturbed you?”
“No, how could that be?” Yu Yan sat up straight and asked, “You don’t spend the Spring Festival with your family?”
“It depends,” said Yi Chen.
“Why ah?” Yu Yan asked, only to find that his question was too sudden. He added, “I mean… doesn’t everyone spend Spring Festival with their families? During that time, it’s a nationwide holiday, and there’s no work to be done.”
This was the first time that someone had ever raised this topic with Yi Chen. He was silent for a bit before he said, “It was since a few years ago that we started not gathering together for New Year’s anymore.”
This time, without waiting for Yu Yan to ask further, he continued, “There aren’t many relatives that we have to pay New Year’s visits to, and for the past few years, my parents had things to do abroad. They had jet lag problems and couldn’t hurry back by New Year’s Eve, so we simply didn’t spend it together. The year before last, the company had an urgent project to deal with so I didn’t go home. Since last year, our family has just not spent New Year’s together.”
Yu Yan frowned and asked him, “Then what were you doing last Spring Festival?”
Yi Chen paused for a moment at this question before he recalled. “At home the whole time.”
Even Yu Yan would go pay New Year visits to Yu Minyang’s and Lu Xiuhe’s families.
An idea bloomed in Yu Yan’s mind. He blinked and blurted out, “This year…”
“Let’s spend this year together ba,” Yi Chen said.
Since what he wanted to say had been said by the other party first, Yu Yan felt stunned for a bit before he nodded. “Okay… I’ll come to you, is that okay?”
Yi Chen watched the face of the person on the screen suddenly change from its completely serious expression to one with shining eyes, and then he even giggled. Yi Chen’s heart unconsciously softened a lot, and even his eyebrows and eyes looked gentler than usual.
“Anything is fine.”
After hanging up the phone, Yu Yan opened the calendar and glanced at it. The joy he was feeling immediately disappeared.
Next year’s Spring Festival would come very early, on January 21, but even if it was earlier, there was still a long way to go.
But just being able to meet was already really good.
Because of this call, Yu Yan’s restless mood smoothed out a lot. He calmed down and sorted out what had happened today in his mind. He then left a message for Yu Minyang, saying that he might have to trouble him tomorrow, and only after that did he turn over to sleep.
——
Anchors breaching contracts was already not an uncommon event for most stream followers; it was actually rare for big anchors to terminate their contracts peacefully. However, a professional player breaking their contract, and breaking it so that they could jump into livestreaming…that was a little strange. Ever since Zhou Mi Entertainment had launched its Weibo page, it had received a lot of attention. The replies to Zhou Mi Entertainment’s last video post had already reached 6000 threads, and the stream followers were still discussing this topic in a relentless manner.
[Are there any bros or Jie/Meis who understand law and can explain things a bit to everyone ah? Does Xiao Yan count as being in breach of contract like this? Around how much is the penalty for breaking a contract? This old mother has already been broken-hearted all night QAQ….]
[Will StarTV intervene?]
[It depends on whether StarTV knew about this before he signed a contract with them. Even if they did, it still has nothing to do with the platform. It’s the anchor who breached his contract himself. Unless the platform wants to protect yanxyan, it’s not likely that they’ll appear. If he really did breach his contract, the damages should at least reach seven figures or more ba. With yanxyan’s current position… I don’t think the platform will protect him.]
Things were complicated and confusing, and up until now, no one could figure out what was true or what was false. Stream followers who had witnessed more of this platform’s anchor’s disputes chose to wait and watch for a while.
This lasted till a comment suddenly popped out and received tens of thousands of praises in an hour, and then reached the top of the most popular comments.
[This yanxyan has too many shoddy things happening ba. First, it’s being a botter, then it’s a catfight with other anchors, and now it’s a breach of contract. A newcomer being able to kick up a fuss like this is really something. I suggest that the management of StarTV should take advantage of this issue to drive him out. Don’t leave this kind of person here to harm other anchors who are livestreaming.]
[WTF, I just went to take a bath, and the most popular comment suddenly changed? Why do you water army people think we’re fools?]
[Have to say that yanxyan’s fan base is too weak. I still remember the banana accident, and my G.o.d, it was like watching gossip in the entertainment circle, with fans in control and everyone trying to white-wash things. If it wasn’t for the platform restricting banana’s most recent rankings, his traffic wouldn’t have been affected at all.]
The stream followers heatedly quarreled until the next day when—
It was in the middle of breakfast when a new Weibo post was born.
[Yanyan’s Daddy: @Zhou Mi Entertainment, the lawsuit process should pick up speed. Zhou Mi’s manager, please contact our management immediately.]
The account was ‘Yanyan’s Daddy’, following: 1, fans: 300. 299 of them were 1YanTang girls who had followed Yu Yan’s Weibo and then travelled over to this account.
Fans sent this post confused face emojis and thought that they hadn’t woken up yet.
“What does Boss 1 mean by this post? How come I don’t understand?”
“Our party’s management… whose party is he talking about?”
“Boss 1, don’t send out a message at this time… A lot of antis have appeared under your Weibo, just wanting to add insult to injury.”
“Boss, you’re betting on the wrong horse. Since you are so rich, why don’t you help the anchor pay the breach of contract damages bei lololololol.”
“Boss, there are plenty of fish in the sea. The next anchor will be better. Let me recommend an anchor to you, a beautiful person who sings sweetly @StarTV Yaya.”
Half an hour later—
[Yanyan’s Daddy: @Zhou Mi Entertainment.]
“？？？”
“Gone mad with anger?”
“Can’t understand this operation…”
Another half an hour later—
[Yanyan’s Daddy: @ Zhou Mi Entertainment, @Ren Lianmin, @…]
Towards the end of the post, there was just a string of @’s aimed at Zhou Mi Entertainment’s few artists.
Somehow, there was something funny about this move. The stream followers found it interesting and were happy to follow suit. As if they were playing at some code, in 10 minutes, it had been reblogged 300 times.
Zhou Mi’s official Weibo couldn’t bear to look at it. After being inexplicably @ for hundreds of times, they finally couldn’t help but appear in the comment area.
[Zhou Mi Entertainment: h.e.l.lo, this fan. We will discuss the terms of the lawsuit with yanxyan himself and his company, StarTV. Please wait for the results of the case.]
In fact, the person in charge of Zhou Mi’s official Weibo was a “senior manager” in the company. He was called a senior manager, but he was actually one of the few employees who had remained in Zhou Mi.
After he sent this reply, he clicked his tongue. “This anchor’s fans are a bit stupid ah.”
“What are you doing listening to a side account with just a few hundred fans?” Feng Xiong asked from the side.
“You didn’t see what his fans said under his post, they were all cursing out our company.” The manager of the Weibo account leaned back and asked, “Xiong Ge, are you sure you can find that Yu Yan this way and get money ah? Our contract… one look and you can tell it’s not valid ah.”
Feng Xiong stared at his cellphone. He had sent Yu Yan several private messages last night, with his contact information attached. He was waiting for Yu Yan to contact him privately.
“Yes.” Feng Xiong thought of something and said, “That kid, he never had much of an education, and he will believe whatever you say. It’s very easy to fool him.”
They didn’t plan to sue him at all. From the beginning to the end, they just wanted to cheat Yu Yan out of some money.
“How much are you planning on getting from him ah?”
Feng Xiong raised his hand and put up three fingers.
“300,000?” The manager asked.
“Three million.”
The person was surprised. “Three million? Where could he get that much money from ah?”
“You don’t understand these things; I inquired about it from others. Anchors make a lot of money now, three million yuan is only a few months’ earnings for them.” Speaking of this, Feng Xiong said regretfully, “I originally wanted five million yuan, but I was afraid that if the number was too large, he wouldn’t be able to get that much out… even rabbits bite if they get frantic.”
The manager of the Weibo thought about it and still wasn’t at ease. “Then what if StarTV intervenes? If it really goes all the way to court ah?”
“How is that possible? Don’t worry ba, I’m not stupid, and the person in charge of StarTV is even less stupid. Our contract has nothing to do with them. Even if Yu Yan really broke the contract, the responsibility lies with Yu Yan himself. The platform would have to have nothing else to do if they came and cared about this shabby matter,” Feng Xiong said as he touched the senior manager’s shoulder. “Come on, let’s see if Yu Yan has replied to your private message. Why has he still not contacted me…”
The manager of the Weibo account checked his private messages.
Yu Yan’s reply was definitely not there.
But there were many other unread comments on the private message page.
[Are you there? Please hurry up the lawsuit process oh. Don’t let our Boss 1 wait and grow impatient :)]
[Lolololol can you guys in this little shabby company be a little bit more efficient and work faster?!]
[Ren Lianmin: I’ve already terminated my contract with you since several months ago, but why hasn’t the Baidu Encyclopedia entry been updated? You must make a statement to clarify that I have already left the company!]
“President Feng, look at this…”
Feng Xiong looked up and said, “What’s the matter? What do you mean?”
The manager of the Weibo account had a face filled with complete confusion as he clicked into the Weibo of the message.
The office’s network speed wasn’t good, thus, just when he was still clicking it, the name displayed on this Weibo account was still “Yanyan’s Daddy”.
But a few seconds later, the name suddenly changed——
Yi Chen.
Certified account: Chairman of Yida Group.
[Yi Chen: @Zhou Mi Entertainment.]
—
Juurensha: Ohohohoho, let the face-slapping commence! And Yi Chen is really publicly announcing their relationship here!
xiin: ohhh that account certification name change is such a satisfying slap in the face.
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